Pain Medicine Specialists - Encinitas, CA

"Dr. Hai-Yan Li is supposedly a "pain management" orthopedic doctor at Scripps Clinic. She is literally the worst doctor I have ever seen, and I've seen my fair share. I have several conditions in my lower back, including stenosis, degenerative disc disease and facet disease. The Scripps orthopedic PA sent me to Dr. Li and told me I could get spinal injections for the pain. Dr. Li has absolutely no bedside manner. She came in, looked and my xrays, and said I should go for a swim. When I explained the debilitating pain I endure, she said "if it gets bad, you can go to the ER." That's her idea of pain management?? The ER? I further explained that when the pain "gets bad," I'm bedridden for 3 days. She said, "Oh, just come in then." Come in?? Did you just hear me say I can't get out of bed? No, she didn't hear me say anything because she does not LISTEN. She didn't offer me any medication, no physical therapy, no spinal injections, no stem cell injections, no steroids, not a kind word ... NOTHING. She literally did nothing. She LITERALLY shrugged her shoulders at me and walked out of the room. The whole visit cost me $4 to park and a $50 copay - money which I don't have - to be told I should go for a swim. Unbelievable. Stay as far away as you can from both Scripps Clinic Orthopedic and especially Dr. Li. They have nothing to offer and do not care."

"August 2022 My personal pain credo: Pain may be unavoidable - but suffering needlessly can be avoided altogether or at least minimized. In 2015 my General Practitioner referred me to PPMC for some pain related issues that were beyond his expertise. I am most grateful that he did. Since that time, PPMC has helped me with various pain issues in my neck, back, shoulders, elbows. Yes...I've done a lot of living and have a lifetime of experiences and injuries that have manifested more noticeably in recent years. PPMC's approach is to find the source/cause of the pain and to relieve the cause or at least to minimize associated pain. When needed, they have referred me to other practitioners such as orthopedic specialists for my current rotator cuff surgery. This was after trying several non-invasive approaches such as steroid injections along with physical therapy. My experience with PPMC is thoroughly positive and pleasant - from the front desk administration to assistants and practitioners. Kudos especially to Michael Davis for his kind attention and (actual) listening to me and coming up with various recommendations and follow through treatments. Not every pain related ailment is 'curable' but in some instances we have been able to mitigate the pain to a level where I can still function. Currently, I am in PT shoulder rehab and expect to get back to my fifty first year of surfing in November. Consider also that within a one mile radius there are countless medical services and specialists - including Tri-City Hospital that are in the same network. This makes for easy and convenient transfer of records, referrals and myriad exchange of information to help make your life easier and healthier. If I could give them more stars - I would."